HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-05-24, Page 17Beware the mystery
shopper scam
(HURON COUNTY,
ON) - Huron County resi-
dents need to be aware the
Mystery Shopper scam is
currently active.
In fact, in one recent
case a Huron East resident
was victimized for nearly
$2500.
Getting paid to go shop-
ping? Sounds like a great
gig, making a hefty sum of
money for a relatively
small amount of your time.
Before you get too
excited and respond to
that enticing ad or Letter
that shows up in your
mailbox, please remember
the old adage, 'If it seems
too good to be true, it prob-
ably is:'
Yes, there are plenty of
legitimate mystery shop-
ping companies, which
hire individuals to drop in
unannounced at retailers,
hotels, restaurants and
other businesses to
secretly evaluate customer
service.
However, the fraudulent
kind typically works as
fake check scams.
Stammers often use free
online classified websites
to recruit potential victims.
Consumers answer tempt-
ing online posts, emails or
text message ads to
become a mystery
shopper.
The "employer" sends a
letter with shopping tasks
to be completed in a «pro-
fessional and expeditious»
manner at various stores.
Enclosed with the "Con-
gratulatory Letter" is a
cheque that is to be used
by the "employee" with
purchasing the goods and
fulfilling the shopping
tasks.
The "employee" is told
to deposit the cheque and
is instructed to keep a por-
tion of the money as a
payment.
The remaining funds
are to be used to send a
wire transfer of funds to
test the company>s proce-
dure or customer service
skills.
In this instance the
"employee's" assignment
was to evaluate the "effec-
tiveness and efficiency of
Banks"
Eventually the cheque is
returned as counterfeit
and the "employee" is
'accountable to pay for the
funds that were
transferred.
In this particular case a
46 -year old from Huron
East deposited the cheque
into her account, com-
pleted her assignments
and then proceeded to
deposit $2480 into the
scammers account.
Upon returning home
the victim decided to go
online to do some check-
ing on the company she
was working for and she
immediately noticed she
had fallen for a scam.
She immediately
reported the scam to her
bank and police however
the damage was already
done and the prospects of
getting her money back
are unlikely.
Consistent with most
scams the scam artist.
requests you to be "dis-
crete and confidential"
and "act in accordance
with the Employee Code of
Business and Ethics"
This scam is also
dependent on you
responding immediately.
The mystery shopper letter
states, "Although this is a
training exercise, it should
be considered a job
interview.
An offer of a permanent
position will be based on
the time it takes you to
complete the assignment':
The scam artist wants you
to feel pressured and to act
quickly before the bank or
consumer determines it is
a fake cheque.
Here are some warning
signs to help protect
yourself: Be mindful
where you post your
resume - scammers often
use legitimate websites to
seek out victims; A legiti-
mate employer will never
send funds and request a
portion of it back; Do
your research - a simple
search on the internet
can save you thousands
of dollars; Beware of
unsolicited text messages
and emails offering
employment.
To learn more about
common frauds and how
to report a fraud, you can
contact the Canadian Anti -
Fraud Centre at www.anti-
fraudcentre.ca or
1-888-495-8501.
Habitat enhancement seminar
Kathleen Smith
Goderich Signal Star
"Ihe Ruffed Grouse Society
of Canada's newly formed
I luron-Perth chapter, held a
habitat enhancement semi-
nar in Clinton last week.
Biologist Andy Weik shared
information to landowners
and spoke on ways to improve
the habitat for ruffed grouse
and other forest wildlife.
According to Ruffed Grouse
. Society of Canada's biologist
Weik, if landowners enhanced
their woodlots it would snake
for a more habitable environ-
ment for ruffed grouse and
other wildlife species.
Biologist Weik spoke on and
offered advice on what could
be done to promote early suc-
cessional forest within a wood -
lot, and how it is important to
maintain biodiversity.
According to the Ruffed
Grouse Society of Canada,
the issue with a woodlot that
is mature is that it is not sus-
tainable for wildlife that
needs ground cover.
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 • Signal Star 17
One such animal that
requires a habitat of early
successional forests is the
ruffed grouse as well as deer,
woodcock, turkeys and many
songbird species, including
some at -risk species.
The Ruffed Grouse Society
(RGS) of Canada's Huron -
Perth chapter is to hold its
first fundraiser dinner in St.
Mary's on June 10.
"The fundraising banquet
program is important because
the dollars raised in the com-
munity are spent on habitat
work in the immediate area,
explained Jeff Helsdon who is
assisting the board of direc-
tors with establishing the new
chapter.
"While RGS is like Ducks
Unlimited in that both are hab-
itat organizations with 'fund-
raising dinners, it differs in that
grouse do not migrate, so it is
important to have chapters in
many locations across Ontario."
Proceeds will go back into
Hullett Marsh. Please contact
Jeff Helsdon at 519-983-3947
for tickets.
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